A Time When - Lee Kimber

There was a time whenyoung girls compared red and purple woundson impressionable thighsand small backsWhen loop by loopthe leather slidfrom farmers’ tweeds, to lick their limbsAnd they clungto the lee of the fathers’ legs to block the sting of their helplessness And bruised arms were fineon hot, short-sleeve days

There was a time whenyour leather belt was slick and worn -the time when I’d fallen ‘cos your beer was spilled - and the pointed tip slid from the loopsof your cityjeansand I rememberedto block the hurt,to hunch my shoulders,to bend my legs together

Those were the yearsyou stole what was left -even who I was letter byletterAnd the time when I was so tiny,shrivelled to a place where you couldn’t touch me anymore.

Contributor's Note

Lee's quals are in Science and Adult Education, but her dream is to write her life away.